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Great Lakes Area Indiana FMCA Rally Recap
June 8-12, 2022
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Dates: | June 8-12, 2022 |
| Location: | Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, IN 17746-D County Road 34 Goshen, IN 46528 |
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| Website: | https://www.4hfair.org/p/facilityrentals | |
| Hosts: | Nick and Dee Dee McClain Ron and Mary Bash |
Sixteen (16) Club members came in nine coaches from eight states (three regions) to the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana to attend the 2022 Great Lakes Area Indiana FMCA Rally. Driving to this late spring rally, through the rolling hills of northeast Indiana, some drove into small rural towns along the Heritage Trail to view gorgeous flowered garden quilts. Driving passed farm after farm, sometimes slowing down to accommodate Amish buggies, it was easy to see the many majestic and historic barns (some with quilts painted on them) dotting the rural landscape and to see young green corn and soybean plants emerging in the enormous fields. Additionally, ripe, red, delicious Indiana strawberries were in season and in full abundance with signs advertising them for sale at both fruit stands and u-pick patches along the way.
Wednesday afternoon Club members were graciously greeted by co-hosts Ron and Mary Bash, President Jerry and Mary Breu, and NC Regional VP Anton and Carolyn Hol at our Born Free campsite. Unfortunately, hosts Nick and Dee Dee McClain were unavoidably delayed. The evening proceeded with our traditional pot-luck dinner with Ron and Mary serving up wonderful barbecue sandwiches with all the fixings in the campsite shelter house. The evening closed with entertainment by the Singing Auctioneer.
Thursday morning started with coffee and pastries and then it was off to attend various seminars, and craft classes, get your coach weighed, stroll through the vendor area, walk around the fairgrounds or relax as desired. Late afternoon found the group circling the chairs for pizza, salad, and lively discussion of the day's activities. Nick also gave an update on the upcoming rallies in Durango, Colorado, Cape May, New Jersey, and Maryhill, Washington with caution to sign-up sooner rather than later because some rallies were filling up. Additionally, Carolyn Hol reported on a new May 2023 rally she and Anton are planning and organizing to include the Tulip Time Festival in Pella, Iowa. The evening concluded with a lively game of Bingo.
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Friday again started off with coffee and pastries. Seminars, craft classes, book exchange, and a stroll through the vendor's area were again the choices for morning activities. Lunch consisted of a hamburger/hot dog choice with salad and cookies, and later an ice cream social was held. Early evening found our group back in our campsite with chairs circled in the shelter house and enjoying a healthy portion of strawberry shortcake served up by Club volunteers. Next, the traditional group rally photo was taken. The day ended with entertainer Steve Jeffris who delighted the crowd with a selection of demographic-appropriate songs and jokes.
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Saturday, a scrumptious all-you-can-eat sausage and pancake breakfast was served up with the chef at times choosing to flip pancakes into the air and onto attendee's plates with probably a 95% accuracy. However, some flipped pancakes landed on the floor primarily because the receiver erroneously altered the pancake landing site. The ladies were treated to a very nice early afternoon tea with a speaker provided. The evening was concluded with the twin brother act, Spittin' Image (Identical Twin Duo), which provided the entertainment. Part of their act included a hilarious comedy rendition of how the Lone Ranger came to be (a TV Western series back in the day with each episode starting with - "return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...").
Sunday morning found some getting their coach weighed, all saying their goodbyes and then departing the campground.
It was just a great place to be!
By Nick and Dee Dee McClain
***Note: Nick and Dee Dee want to express their deep appreciation to co-hosts Ron and Mary Bash for stepping in and getting this rally set up at the campground with the assistance of Jerry and Mary Breu due to their unavoidable arrival delay.